Rob Hankin, chief technology officer at Cybit, explains how data can unlock solutions to the UK’s housing crisis
The housing crisis in the United Kingdom has reached a breaking point, driven by a shortage of affordable homes, rising living costs, and increasing homelessness.
According to Shelter England, over 1.3m households are currently on the social housing waiting list, and 164,000 children are living in temporary accommodation. This is not just a housing issue; it is a social emergency that touches every aspect of life, from health and education to economic opportunity.
Many homeowners and renters lack access to reliable information about the condition of their properties, making it difficult to carry out essential repairs. These poor living conditions, combined with the shortage of affordable housing, leave thousands of families struggling to survive in overcrowded homes.
At the same time, new housing developments continue to rise, yet their rapid construction does little to ease the strain. Too often, these projects are designed without listening to the communities they are meant to serve. They may add numbers to housing targets, but they rarely address the deeper issues of quality, sustainability, and liveability.
Instead of solving the crisis, they layer new problems on top of old ones. This deepening crisis highlights the urgent need for data-driven solutions.
Lack of research and data behind building
The lack of reliable data creates a persistent challenge in the social housing sector.
According to government figures between 2023-2024, an average of 15% of households living in England occupied homes with a lack of modern facilities and information regarding their homes, deeming them as ‘non-decent’.
Many housing providers do not have accurate records of the homes they manage, from structural condition and layout to energy efficiency. This data gap makes it difficult to plan repairs, prioritise upgrades, or allocate resources effectively.
Having access to this data is essential when it comes to planning repairs, but also when identifying opportunities to become more sustainable, improving energy efficiency, and reducing environmental impact.
By utilising analytics, policymakers, housing providers, and local authorities can uncover hidden assets and gain deeper insights into the housing stock. This enables more informed decision-making, targeted interventions, and smarter use of funding.
Unlocking another solution, reusing and improving the stock of houses available enables more housing options to those in need, instead of waiting for new builds.
Making people the focal point
Social housing organisations often find it is more cost-effective to demolish and rebuild, rather than carry out renovations. However, this approach overlooks the emotional toll it takes on residents. Many families have lived in the same homes for generations, forming deep attachments to their communities and surroundings. These ties complicate decision-making and highlight the need for more empathetic planning.
Data and analytics offer a neutral, fact-based foundation for evaluating housing options. By leveraging analytics, policymakers, housing providers, and local authorities can uncover hidden assets and gain deeper insights into the housing stock. This enables more informed decision-making, targeted interventions, and smarter use of funding. Data also helps predict the demands of the ever-developing communities in the UK.
Beyond individual households, high housing costs have broader social consequences. They limit people’s freedom to choose where to live, stifle innovation, widen regional and generational inequalities, and even contribute to declining birth rates.
By placing residents’ lived experiences alongside technical data, housing providers can develop solutions that are both practical and compassionate.
Strategising the next steps
There is growing recognition that efficient infrastructure is vital to both local and national prosperity. Yet, there remains a disconnect between housing and infrastructure planning. Without accurate data, decisions risk being misaligned with the needs of residents and the capacity of surrounding services.
To address the crisis effectively, housing organisations must move beyond reactive maintenance and adopt a strategic, data-led approach to asset management. With a well-established data infrastructure, providers can monitor housing stock, anticipate future needs, and plan long-term investments at ease. This helps optimise funding, reduce emergency repairs, and build resilience across housing systems.
The goal is to build communities that thrive, rather than simply survive. Facilitating a strategic approach is essential when it comes to housing development, ensuring that new homes are being integrated with transport networks, utilities, schools, healthcare services, and other essential infrastructure.
Reality and the UK’s potential
One of the key challenges in infrastructure planning is the lack of knowledge and data literacy among both planners and service providers.
Without the right skills and tools, it becomes difficult to integrate housing with wider infrastructure in a meaningful way. However, there is huge potential for progress when local councils and responsible departments embrace data and plan proactively, rather than only responding to problems once they arise.
Technology plays an increasingly central role in every aspect of life, and housing is no exception. When used responsibly, data and analytics can help break cycles of inequality, improve living conditions, and support healthier, more resilient communities, not just for today, but for generations to come.
Meaningful change happens when people are placed at the heart of planning, and when available tools are used with purpose and care. The UK holds enormous potential, thanks to the wealth of data already available and the growing capabilities of technology to collect and analyse more.
To unlock this potential, the sector must be willing to challenge outdated systems and embrace new ways of thinking.
By putting people first and using data for good, we can build a housing system that is fairer, smarter, and more sustainable – one that truly serves the needs of the communities it was built for.
Main image: Rob Hankin is chief technology officer at Cybit
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